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Tennessee basketball: 3 takeaways from Vols heartbreaking loss to North Carolina

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 17: Tennessee Volunteers players celebrate after a turnover in the first half of a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Thompson-Boling Arena on December 17, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 17: Tennessee Volunteers players celebrate after a turnover in the first half of a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Thompson-Boling Arena on December 17, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee basketball suffered a heartbreaker to the No. 7 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Here are three takeaways from the No. 20 Volunteers’ loss.

After leading for basically the entire game, Tennessee basketball surrendered a 9-0 run to UNC in the final minute to lose at home 78-73. The Vols had a six-point halftime lead and extended it to a nine-point lead early in the second. However, the Tar Heels fought back.

In what became a defensive struggle, Tennessee held onto the lead for the most part. But it was just barely, and then the Tar Heels took the lead for good, 72-70, with 33 seconds left after a Kenny Williams three-pointer.

With the loss, the Vols fall to 7-2 on the year, while UNC moves to 10-1. However, both of Tennessee’s losses are to Top 10 teams.

Here are three takeaways from Tennessee basketball’s loss.

Vols’ offense never countered Roy Williams’s defensive adjustments.

Tennessee scored 38 points in the first half and was red hot. And they still did a good job for the first 10 minutes of the second half. However, they went ice cold in the final 10 minutes, including a six-minute stretch in which they scored no field goals.

That was the difference in the game. Then, with under a minute to go and clinging to a one-point lead, Roy Williams switched to a press, caught Tennessee basketball off-guard, and forced a turnover. That is the play that changed the game. There’s another factor that didn’t help the offense.

Tennessee’s key scorers went ice cold.

One of the strongest suits of this Tennessee basketball team is the litany of scorers who can stretch the floor. But while James Daniel III came alive, many of the other ones had off-nights. Lamonte Turner was an uncharacteristic 1-for-8 and 0-for-5 from three. Jordan Bone was also 0-for-3 from outside, and Admiral Schofield was 3-of-13 from the field overall.

You can’t have so many players falling short like that against UNC. However, they did, and it put a ton of pressure on Grant Williams. What’s remarkable is how Tennessee basketball even managed to stay in this game with those stats. And it goes to our final issue.

The Vols have a ton of heart.

As we mentioned, the lack of adjustments and cold outside shooting from key players really cost the Vols. But Tennessee basketball still was in this game until the very end. That’s because of the defensive intensity, the effort on 50/50 balls, and the hustle.

Depth and free throw shooting was a huge part of that as well. These Vols may have lost on Sunday, but it’s nothing to be concerned about for right now. They are still a very good team.

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